Saposhnikovia Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Saposhnikovia Root, known in Chinese as 防风 (Fángfēng) and scientifically as Radix Saposhnikoviae, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Saposhnikovia Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Saposhnikovia Root helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Saposhnikovia Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Saposhnikovia Root has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Saposhnikovia Root, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Tongyun, Huiyun, Pingfeng, Fengrou. It is the root of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk., a plant of the Apiaceae family. It is mainly produced in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces, with the largest yield from Heilongjiang. It is also found in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, and other regions. The roots are dug in spring and autumn, cleaned of residual stems, fibrous roots, and soil, then sun-dried until about 80-90% dry. They are tied into small bundles according to thickness and length, then further sun-dried or baked dry.

[Properties] Taste: pungent and sweet; nature: warm. Channels entered: Bladder, Lung, Spleen.

[Actions] Expels wind and releases the exterior, overcomes dampness and relieves pain, stops spasms.

[Applications]
1. Used for external wind-cold syndromes with symptoms of headache, body aches, chills and fever without sweating; often combined with Jingjie (Schizonepeta) and Suye (Perilla leaf). For wind-cold with dampness causing headache, stiff neck, and soreness and pain in limbs, often combined with Qianghuo (Notopterygium), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum), Gaoben (Ligusticum sinense), as in Qianghuo Shengshi Tang.
It can also be used for external wind-heat with headache and red eyes, combined with Bohe (Mint), Niubangzi (Arctium fruit), etc.
2. Used for pruritic wind rashes regardless of wind-cold, wind-heat, damp-heat, or blood deficiency causing wind. For wind-cold rash, often combined with Mahuang (Ephedra), Baizhi (Angelica dahurica), Cang’erzi (Xanthium fruit); for wind-heat rash, combined with Bohe, Chantui (Cicada molting), Jiangcan (Silkworm); for damp-heat rash, combined with Tufuling (Smilax), Baixianpi (Dictamnus), Chixiaodou (Adzuki bean); for blood deficiency with wind dryness, combined with Danggui (Angelica sinensis), Dihuang (Rehmannia); if complicated with internal excess heat and stagnation, combined with Dahuang (Rhubarb), Mangxiao (Mirabilite), Huangqin (Scutellaria), as in Fangfeng Tongsheng San.
3. Used for wind-cold-damp painful obstruction syndrome with muscle and joint pain. If wind predominates causing wandering pain in joints and bones, combined with Qianghuo, Qin Jiao (Gentiana), Guizhi (Cinnamon twig), Cangzhu (Atractylodes); if cold predominates with severe pain, combined with Chuanwu (Aconite), Caowu (Aconite), Fuzi (Aconite lateralis); if heat obstruction with swollen, hot painful joints, combined with Dilong (Earthworm), Loulv (Rhizoma Dioscoreae).
4. Used for tetanus with opisthotonos, trismus, convulsions; often combined with Tiannanxing (Arisaema), Baifuzi (Typhonium), Tianma (Gastrodia), as in Yuzhen San.
5. Used for liver qi invading spleen causing abdominal pain and diarrhea with pain relieved after bowel movement; often combined with Baizhu (Atractylodes), Baishao (Paeonia); as in Tongxie Yaofang. Combined with Huangqi (Astragalus) and Zhike (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), it can treat chronic dysentery with prolapse due to spleen qi deficiency, as in Sanqi San.
Additionally, charred Fangfeng can stop bleeding, used for intestinal wind with bloody stools and metrorrhagia.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 4.5–9 g; or incorporated into pills or powders. For releasing the exterior, use raw; for bleeding, use charred; for diarrhea, use roasted. External use: appropriate amount, ground into powder and applied topically.

[Cautions] Not suitable for yin deficiency with fire excess, blood deficiency with spasms, or cases without wind-cold-damp pathogens.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Fangfeng contains volatile oils with 20 identifiable components, major ones include octanal, β-caryophyllene, nonanal, 7-octen-4-ol, hexanal, sabinene, and β-eudesmol. It also contains coumarins, psoralen, imperatorin, apigenin, coral polysaccharides, chromones, polyacetylenes, polysaccharides, β-sitosterol, carotene glycosides, mannitol, sucrose, etc.
2. Pharmacological effects: Fangfeng decoction and tincture have significant antipyretic and cooling effects, with decoction being more effective than alcohol tincture; water decoction has sedative, analgesic, and anticonvulsant effects; it significantly enhances phagocytosis of mouse peritoneal macrophages; it inhibits delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene; acidic polysaccharides A or C accelerate carbon particle clearance in mice; n-butanol extract shows anticoagulant activity; water decoction inhibits Staphylococcus aureus, beta-hemolytic streptococcus, pneumococcus, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Aspergillus versicolor.
3. Clinical reports: Peripheral facial paralysis: 2 whole centipedes ground into fine powder combined with 30 g Fangfeng decocted and taken orally after meals once daily; for long disease courses, Danggui and Chuanxiong added; dosage reduced for children. Among 26 cases treated, 16 cured, 6 markedly effective, 3 improved, 1 ineffective. [Shandong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1986,(3):26]